These are not formulas. They are principles of Prayer. Always remember that your prayer life is a journey to be taken in close fellowship and communion with the precious Holy Spirit. Remember too that you will not become perfect in prayer and faith overnight.

Spiritual growth take time as natural growth does. Your prayer life will grow and develop with patience and diligence.

Here are 7 fundamental aspects of praying – that gets results.

If you faithfully follow these steps in prayer, you can be sure of an answer.

1. Decide what you want from God

James 1:6-8

6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavers is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.

7 For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord.

8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

The above scriptures show us the importance of decisiveness.

James said if man wavers – if he cannot make up his mind – he is unstable in all his ways and he cannot expect to receive anything from the Lord.

It would be better to pray for two of three minutes and know what you are praying about than to pray aimlessly for two or three hours.

Decide what you want from God and be definite about it!

2. Read scriptures that promise the answer you need.

Joshua 1:8

This book of the law shall not depart out of they mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

In order to be successful in our prayer life, God’s Word must be foremost.

As we feed upon His Word, we build it into our inner consciousness.

Then, in time of need, we are prepared.

We can use the appropriate scriptures against the devil when he tries to make us doubt God and rob us of what we want.

Luke 4:3 – In the wilderness when Satan tempted Jesus to turn stones into bread, Jesus answered with the Word. He said, “…It is written that man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God."

Then Satan took Him up on a high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world. He told Jesus if He would worship him, he would give all these kingdoms to Him.

Again Jesus answered, “…it is written, thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.”

Satan then took Jesus upon a pinnacle of the Temple and said to him, “…Cast thyself down…”Again Jesus answered with the Word, saying, ”It is said, thou shalt not tempt the Lord the god.”

Jesus used the same weapon to defeat the devil that all believers have today:

THE WORD OF GOD.

All we have to do in the face of temptation and doubt is to say,

“IT IS WRITTEN”

If the scriptures are firmly implanted in out heart, we are prepared for any attacks of the devil.

Search the scriptures to see what God has to say about any situation.

3. Ask God for the things you want

Matthew 7:7,8

7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

John 16:24

…Ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.

Matthew 6:8

Jesus said “…your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.”

In the verses quoted above, we can see that, even though He knows our needs, He wants us to bring them to Him and ask His help.

4. Believe that you receive

Mark 11:23, 24

23 For verily I say unto you, that whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.

The Amplified version of the above verse says, “…Whatever you ask for in prayer, believe – trust and be confident – that it is granted to you, and you will [get it].”

To understand this better, we need to realize that there are two kinds of truth sense-knowledge truth and revelation truth.

Some people think truth pertains to things they can see with their physical eyes.

But we cannot see the things of the Spirit. They are not flesh; they are not material.

Everything we need is provided for us in the spiritual realm.

Eph 1:3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.”

Our needs have been provided for in Christ Jesus. We may not always be able to see them, but they are there.

When “sense-knowledge truth” contradicts “revelation truth”, or the Word of God, I start walking by revelation truth. I WALK BY WHAT GOD SAYS.

Develop a stubborn faith that refuses to look at circumstance – a faith that produces results.

5. Refuse to doubt

Let every thought and desire affirm that you have what you ask.

If doubts persist, rebuke them. Get your mind on the answer.
James 4:7…Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Doubt is of the devil. Recognise and resist it.

Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

Concentrate on thinking about what God’s Word has said concerning your circumstances.